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Synonyms

harm

1 American  
[hahrm] / hɑrm /

noun

  1. physical injury or mental damage; hurt.

    to do him bodily harm.
    Antonyms:
    benefit

  2. moral injury; evil; wrong.

verb (used with object)

  1. to do or cause harm to; injure; damage; hurt.

    to harm one's reputation.
    Synonyms:
    abuse, maltreat
    Antonyms:
    help
HARM 2 American  
[hahrm] / hɑrm /

noun

Military.

  1. a U.S. air-to-surface missile designed to detect and destroy radar sites by homing on their emissions.

harm British  
/ hɑːm /

noun

  1. physical or mental injury or damage

  2. moral evil or wrongdoing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to injure physically, morally, or mentally

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
harm Idioms  

  1. see do one wrong (harm); out of harm's way.

Related Words

See damage.

Other Word Forms

  • harmer noun
  • self-harming adjective
  • unharmed adjective
  • unharming adjective

Etymology

Origin of harm1

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hearm; cognate with German Harm, Old Norse harmr

Origin of HARM2

H(igh-speed) A(nti) R(adiation) M(issile)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Instead, his life was tragically cut short. No one who comes here seeking refuge should be left in harm's way."

From BBC

However concern over consumer prices and harm to workers could lead state attorneys general to try to block the deal further down the line, he adds.

From BBC

It has been used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence, but can cause debilitating harm to some women.

From BBC

The family also saw the introduction of Tony's Law, which strengthened sentencing for those who cause or allow serious harm to children.

From BBC

Fearing harm to her family, Sage ran away.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.